Doug Cook's Blog, page 23
March 20, 2015
The Meaning of Indomitable Spirit and How I Apply it in my Life
by Rocco Manno
age 9 Blue Belt Essay
Indomitable spirit means you have a spirit that is unbeatable, unshakable and invincible. It does not mean you always win, it means you stay positive and you don't let other people discourage you. At Chosun Taekwondo Academy, the instructors teach us how to have an indomitable spirit. They encourage us to do our best and to never give up, even when training is hard.
In my life I did not always have an indomitable spirit. When I was in 1st and 2nd grade, some boys were bullying me and I had a really hard time controlling my temper and emotions. I was very frustrated and I let them make me angry. It made me so sad that whey were so mean to me. I was beaten.
Now Taekwondo has helped me to have an indomitable spirit. This year in 3rd grade, a boy in my class was bothering me but I handled it much differently. He cursed at me, hit me and even tried to ruin my art project. I don't like how he treated me but I didn't let his behavior control me. I got my teachers to help me and he had consequences, not me. I didn't let him ruin my day. My teacher even said I was dealing with the situation "maturely." I feel good about how I handled this and I feel strong because I can control myself and stay positive. I have an indomitable spirit!
age 9 Blue Belt Essay
Indomitable spirit means you have a spirit that is unbeatable, unshakable and invincible. It does not mean you always win, it means you stay positive and you don't let other people discourage you. At Chosun Taekwondo Academy, the instructors teach us how to have an indomitable spirit. They encourage us to do our best and to never give up, even when training is hard.
In my life I did not always have an indomitable spirit. When I was in 1st and 2nd grade, some boys were bullying me and I had a really hard time controlling my temper and emotions. I was very frustrated and I let them make me angry. It made me so sad that whey were so mean to me. I was beaten. Now Taekwondo has helped me to have an indomitable spirit. This year in 3rd grade, a boy in my class was bothering me but I handled it much differently. He cursed at me, hit me and even tried to ruin my art project. I don't like how he treated me but I didn't let his behavior control me. I got my teachers to help me and he had consequences, not me. I didn't let him ruin my day. My teacher even said I was dealing with the situation "maturely." I feel good about how I handled this and I feel strong because I can control myself and stay positive. I have an indomitable spirit!
The Meaning of Indomitable Spirit
by Harrison Gratzel
age 7 Blue Belt Essay
The meaning of Indomitable Spirit is having a strong and unbeatable spirit. I think I am strong inside myself.
I apply an Indomitable Spirit in my life by beating my fears. Having an unbeatable spirit makes me feel happy and confident.
And also I think having an unbeatable spirit make our dreams come true.
My Indomitable Spirit keeps me cool and awesome.
age 7 Blue Belt Essay
The meaning of Indomitable Spirit is having a strong and unbeatable spirit. I think I am strong inside myself.
I apply an Indomitable Spirit in my life by beating my fears. Having an unbeatable spirit makes me feel happy and confident.
And also I think having an unbeatable spirit make our dreams come true.
My Indomitable Spirit keeps me cool and awesome.
Persevering in Taekwondo
by Taylor DiMeglio
Green Belt Essay
Time passes swiftly, as it often does. My white belt has turned yellow, then orange. Soon it will be green... taekwondo an ever-shifting landscape. Kicho forms bring Taeguks, Palgwe Il Jang arrives. Two forms become six, six defensive maneuvers now eighteen, nine Il Su Siks, nine Ho Sin Sools. New kicks, new stances, knife hand. An arsenal is building, a foundation laid. I’m reminded—challenge is a steady stream. In taekwondo, you either focus or founder, and since the vista has widened and my desire grown, I’m daunted.
I’m not a halfway person. What I want to do, I want to do all the way. Full vigor, nothing withheld. Yet, if I were an animal, I’d be a donkey. Slow, plodding, standing stock still in the pasture, time lost to thought. I’ve often wished for two lives, one to observe and ponder, the next one to live. A month to work on back stance, half a year to cultivate knife hand. Perfecting one technique, then another. Wholly impractical. Maybe I’ll get another life, but, in the interest of assurance, it’s this one or bust.
There’s a part of me that would like to stay at orange belt. Even with a growing repertoire, I’m securely in the beginner’s realm. There’s time enough for review; expectations are low. Praise comes easy. I know exactly where to stand in the line up. Spinning hook kick is around the corner, though. Expectations grow. As a greenhorn, I show potential. In time this may fall flat. Pretty kicks must gain in speed and power, a palm heel has to do more than land in the right place.
The ‘demon of self-doubt’ is pernicious. My left knee twinges. “You should have started ten years ago,” this scathing voice intones. I stretch my toe too far in the wrong direction: “You’re going to get hurt.” When I pause to admire Miyamoto Musashi, up it pipes, “You are not he.” I’d like to tell this self-satisfied inner specter a thing or two, but I’m afraid it may be right. I’ve started too late. First dan is reachable, but fourth dan? Beyond? I don’t know. I should quit. I’ll never be the martial artist I’d like to be, nor the one I might have been.
There is, however, a counter to the self-destructive voice. Perseverance is a primordial mandate, rooted in the indomitable spirit. It’s embedded in our code. Everywhere we see and hear it—insistent voices, human souls longing to be known. Ubiquitous in human history, it is perseverance which has carried us forward from the very beginnings of civilization. Korea, too. In war after war, battle after battle, Koreans fought not only to survive but to thrive with their cultural identity intact, their country intent on industry, innovation, growth. Countless stories of courage and grief speak of their determination. They would not give up.
Versus will, discouragement is an unconvincing foe. More than anything, the human spirit wants to be. Always. Thus, when my self-doubt goes too far, latent fierceness rises up, my own indomitable spirit. Who’s to say what I might have been, or what I’ve yet to be? Shall I let unfulfilled fears be my guide? I haven’t ever; I won’t start now. Even as I grow and age, I am still the young girl that I was. So long as my mind and body hold and my spirit is within, I will lay claim to that fiery girl. She is ever with me. I won’t let her down.
Instead, I will practice, patience as well as technique. Palm heel today, knife hand tomorrow, the reverse next week. I will build today’s progress into tomorrow’s mastery, take my lumps, and cherish victories as they come.
Green Belt Essay
Time passes swiftly, as it often does. My white belt has turned yellow, then orange. Soon it will be green... taekwondo an ever-shifting landscape. Kicho forms bring Taeguks, Palgwe Il Jang arrives. Two forms become six, six defensive maneuvers now eighteen, nine Il Su Siks, nine Ho Sin Sools. New kicks, new stances, knife hand. An arsenal is building, a foundation laid. I’m reminded—challenge is a steady stream. In taekwondo, you either focus or founder, and since the vista has widened and my desire grown, I’m daunted.
I’m not a halfway person. What I want to do, I want to do all the way. Full vigor, nothing withheld. Yet, if I were an animal, I’d be a donkey. Slow, plodding, standing stock still in the pasture, time lost to thought. I’ve often wished for two lives, one to observe and ponder, the next one to live. A month to work on back stance, half a year to cultivate knife hand. Perfecting one technique, then another. Wholly impractical. Maybe I’ll get another life, but, in the interest of assurance, it’s this one or bust.
There’s a part of me that would like to stay at orange belt. Even with a growing repertoire, I’m securely in the beginner’s realm. There’s time enough for review; expectations are low. Praise comes easy. I know exactly where to stand in the line up. Spinning hook kick is around the corner, though. Expectations grow. As a greenhorn, I show potential. In time this may fall flat. Pretty kicks must gain in speed and power, a palm heel has to do more than land in the right place.
The ‘demon of self-doubt’ is pernicious. My left knee twinges. “You should have started ten years ago,” this scathing voice intones. I stretch my toe too far in the wrong direction: “You’re going to get hurt.” When I pause to admire Miyamoto Musashi, up it pipes, “You are not he.” I’d like to tell this self-satisfied inner specter a thing or two, but I’m afraid it may be right. I’ve started too late. First dan is reachable, but fourth dan? Beyond? I don’t know. I should quit. I’ll never be the martial artist I’d like to be, nor the one I might have been.
There is, however, a counter to the self-destructive voice. Perseverance is a primordial mandate, rooted in the indomitable spirit. It’s embedded in our code. Everywhere we see and hear it—insistent voices, human souls longing to be known. Ubiquitous in human history, it is perseverance which has carried us forward from the very beginnings of civilization. Korea, too. In war after war, battle after battle, Koreans fought not only to survive but to thrive with their cultural identity intact, their country intent on industry, innovation, growth. Countless stories of courage and grief speak of their determination. They would not give up.
Versus will, discouragement is an unconvincing foe. More than anything, the human spirit wants to be. Always. Thus, when my self-doubt goes too far, latent fierceness rises up, my own indomitable spirit. Who’s to say what I might have been, or what I’ve yet to be? Shall I let unfulfilled fears be my guide? I haven’t ever; I won’t start now. Even as I grow and age, I am still the young girl that I was. So long as my mind and body hold and my spirit is within, I will lay claim to that fiery girl. She is ever with me. I won’t let her down.
Instead, I will practice, patience as well as technique. Palm heel today, knife hand tomorrow, the reverse next week. I will build today’s progress into tomorrow’s mastery, take my lumps, and cherish victories as they come.
March 16, 2015
Invoking the Tigress
by Master Doug CookTae kwon do is frequently described by critics, often disparagingly, as a “women’s sport” largely because so many females participate. Frankly, as a professional instructor, I feel this is due to the fact that the national martial art of Korea is a highly empowering
discipline especially if taught in a traditional manner. Historically, aside from its value to the civilian population, one must recall that tae kwon do was partially created as a method of self-defense for soldiers on the field of battle. Moreover, it was repeatedly proven effective during combat in the jungles of Vietnam and throughout the Korean Conflict. Is it any wonder then why women – who from time immemorial have been convinced of their physical inferiority when compared to their male counterparts – would choose to embrace a legitimate vehicle for nurturing self-confidence that clearly encourages a break with the conventional model of women being defenseless individuals? Subsequently, for this article featuring women in tae kwon do, I have requested several of my adult female students to address this component of their practice through the written word. I hope you find their heartfelt responses inspiring!
Olga Pico/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Traditional tae kwon do has nurtured my self- confidence. I stand up taller and keep my head up. Throughout life we all face different challenges and with experience you learn and feel more confident about handling situations. As a tae kwon do practitioner, it is difficult to learn a new poomsae. However, each time one is mastered you feel a great sense of accomplishment thus increasing your confidence. I apply this life lesson to all my endeavors and it helps me succeed in general.
Jean Bailly-Orlovsky/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.” With this in mind, traditional tae kwon do training has enhanced my self-awareness and given me the confidence to persevere in various situations that I might not have had the determination for in the past. Meditation encourages me to slow my mind and embrace enlightened perspective. The physical training is active meditation, which unifies mind, body and spirit and liberates me to pursue a sanguine life.
Mary Dacchille-Sulesky/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Self-confidence is something that starts out as a small seed inside your head. If the seed is watered, given sun, care, and allowed to grow, it will transcend your body and become a part of the way the world sees you. Traditional tae kwon do has allowed me to use my body in a way I would have never thought possible. Our master, Doug Cook, is fond of saying that there is no elevator to the top floor of tae kwon do; it is a walk-up. We all started at white belt and worked our way up earning our belts as we progressed. I did not start with a lot of confidence, but I was nurtured in a traditional environment at my dojang. Like a seed that is properly cared for, I have grown and now I walk with my shoulders back and my head high. I know that if I am willing to practice the martial art of tae kwon do, I can achieve so much in my life.
Pamela Roeloffs/Black Belt 3rd Dan: At the start of a new belt level, I have “beginner’s mind”. This is an expression of innocence as dictated by Buddhist teachings, but it is frequently accompanied by confusion and frustration. Chosun Taekwondo Academy’s exceptional instructors help build my confidence by encouraging the techniques that I perform correctly and demonstrating those that need improvement. By the end of each belt or stripe level I feel comfortable and confident with my techniques. It is a repeating cycle that I journey through as I progress in my traditional tae kwon do training. It is a process that manifests itself in my daily routine thus providing empowerment and a quiet sense of self-confidence.
Amy Fitzpatrick Smith/Black Belt 3rd Dan: My father used to tell me to walk like I was carrying a gun. This gave me an air of confidence, of being unapproachable. Had I been attacked by a strong man, what would I have done, exactly? As a black belt studying traditional tae kwon do, I know the answer to that: learn authentic self-defense. This gives me true confidence. I still walk like I’m carrying a gun, but being empty handed has a whole new meaning for me now.
Pamela Pyke/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Practicing traditional tae kwon do instills in me strength, dignity and poise. My confidence has been nurtured and challenged throughout my entire journey
over the ranks. Finding the strength and stamina to train has done nothing
less than thrill me. What a joy it is to be so aware of one's physical
body. I am slowly discovering who I am as a martial artist. I take great
pride in knowing I can defend myself and even others if need be.
Linda Taylor/Black Belt 2nd Dan: At 21 I was attacked on the street by teenage girls. I remember my fear, and my flailing, ineffectual attempts to hit back. I'm now very confident that I can do a far better job of defending myself. Fighting doesn't come easily to most women. Tae kwondo has taught me to be disciplined, strong and confident in the power of our techniques. Today, walking down the street, I feel proud, powerful and much safer.
Nancy Bree Garrett/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Sometimes when I see someone my age struggle to climb the stairs to my art studio, I think, ‘that’s not me’. When I see women who are fearful, I think, ‘that’s not me’. When I walk down the street feeling my body strong and upright, my legs moving free and easy, and my breath coming strong and steady, I marvel that I feel this way. The strength of mind, body and spirit that my tae kwon do training brings me - That’s me!
Terrie Wynne/Black Belt 4th Dan: Self-confidence is a funny thing. It sneaks up on you. After years of traditional training I have learned thirty-three forms. I never would have said I had the confidence to teach, but as I learned the forms, the confidence grew. So much so, that I am now an instructor, passing on and instilling self-confidence in others. Additionally, it is now a humorous fact that when my husband and I travel, he claims to feel safer with me at his side. Confidence!
Master Doug Cook, a 6th dan black belt, is head instructor of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York, a senior student of Grandmaster Richard Chun, and author of four best-selling books entitled: Taekwond-Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence and his most recent contribution, Taekwondo Black Belt Poomsae- Original Koryo and Koryo, co-authored with Grandmaster Richard Chun, all published by YMAA Publications Inc. He can be reached for lectures, seminars or questions at www.chosuntkd.com or info@chosuntkd.com.
discipline especially if taught in a traditional manner. Historically, aside from its value to the civilian population, one must recall that tae kwon do was partially created as a method of self-defense for soldiers on the field of battle. Moreover, it was repeatedly proven effective during combat in the jungles of Vietnam and throughout the Korean Conflict. Is it any wonder then why women – who from time immemorial have been convinced of their physical inferiority when compared to their male counterparts – would choose to embrace a legitimate vehicle for nurturing self-confidence that clearly encourages a break with the conventional model of women being defenseless individuals? Subsequently, for this article featuring women in tae kwon do, I have requested several of my adult female students to address this component of their practice through the written word. I hope you find their heartfelt responses inspiring!Olga Pico/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Traditional tae kwon do has nurtured my self- confidence. I stand up taller and keep my head up. Throughout life we all face different challenges and with experience you learn and feel more confident about handling situations. As a tae kwon do practitioner, it is difficult to learn a new poomsae. However, each time one is mastered you feel a great sense of accomplishment thus increasing your confidence. I apply this life lesson to all my endeavors and it helps me succeed in general.
Jean Bailly-Orlovsky/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.” With this in mind, traditional tae kwon do training has enhanced my self-awareness and given me the confidence to persevere in various situations that I might not have had the determination for in the past. Meditation encourages me to slow my mind and embrace enlightened perspective. The physical training is active meditation, which unifies mind, body and spirit and liberates me to pursue a sanguine life.
Mary Dacchille-Sulesky/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Self-confidence is something that starts out as a small seed inside your head. If the seed is watered, given sun, care, and allowed to grow, it will transcend your body and become a part of the way the world sees you. Traditional tae kwon do has allowed me to use my body in a way I would have never thought possible. Our master, Doug Cook, is fond of saying that there is no elevator to the top floor of tae kwon do; it is a walk-up. We all started at white belt and worked our way up earning our belts as we progressed. I did not start with a lot of confidence, but I was nurtured in a traditional environment at my dojang. Like a seed that is properly cared for, I have grown and now I walk with my shoulders back and my head high. I know that if I am willing to practice the martial art of tae kwon do, I can achieve so much in my life.
Pamela Roeloffs/Black Belt 3rd Dan: At the start of a new belt level, I have “beginner’s mind”. This is an expression of innocence as dictated by Buddhist teachings, but it is frequently accompanied by confusion and frustration. Chosun Taekwondo Academy’s exceptional instructors help build my confidence by encouraging the techniques that I perform correctly and demonstrating those that need improvement. By the end of each belt or stripe level I feel comfortable and confident with my techniques. It is a repeating cycle that I journey through as I progress in my traditional tae kwon do training. It is a process that manifests itself in my daily routine thus providing empowerment and a quiet sense of self-confidence.
Amy Fitzpatrick Smith/Black Belt 3rd Dan: My father used to tell me to walk like I was carrying a gun. This gave me an air of confidence, of being unapproachable. Had I been attacked by a strong man, what would I have done, exactly? As a black belt studying traditional tae kwon do, I know the answer to that: learn authentic self-defense. This gives me true confidence. I still walk like I’m carrying a gun, but being empty handed has a whole new meaning for me now.
Pamela Pyke/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Practicing traditional tae kwon do instills in me strength, dignity and poise. My confidence has been nurtured and challenged throughout my entire journey
over the ranks. Finding the strength and stamina to train has done nothing
less than thrill me. What a joy it is to be so aware of one's physical
body. I am slowly discovering who I am as a martial artist. I take great
pride in knowing I can defend myself and even others if need be.
Linda Taylor/Black Belt 2nd Dan: At 21 I was attacked on the street by teenage girls. I remember my fear, and my flailing, ineffectual attempts to hit back. I'm now very confident that I can do a far better job of defending myself. Fighting doesn't come easily to most women. Tae kwondo has taught me to be disciplined, strong and confident in the power of our techniques. Today, walking down the street, I feel proud, powerful and much safer.
Nancy Bree Garrett/Black Belt 3rd Dan: Sometimes when I see someone my age struggle to climb the stairs to my art studio, I think, ‘that’s not me’. When I see women who are fearful, I think, ‘that’s not me’. When I walk down the street feeling my body strong and upright, my legs moving free and easy, and my breath coming strong and steady, I marvel that I feel this way. The strength of mind, body and spirit that my tae kwon do training brings me - That’s me!
Terrie Wynne/Black Belt 4th Dan: Self-confidence is a funny thing. It sneaks up on you. After years of traditional training I have learned thirty-three forms. I never would have said I had the confidence to teach, but as I learned the forms, the confidence grew. So much so, that I am now an instructor, passing on and instilling self-confidence in others. Additionally, it is now a humorous fact that when my husband and I travel, he claims to feel safer with me at his side. Confidence!
Master Doug Cook, a 6th dan black belt, is head instructor of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York, a senior student of Grandmaster Richard Chun, and author of four best-selling books entitled: Taekwond-Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence and his most recent contribution, Taekwondo Black Belt Poomsae- Original Koryo and Koryo, co-authored with Grandmaster Richard Chun, all published by YMAA Publications Inc. He can be reached for lectures, seminars or questions at www.chosuntkd.com or info@chosuntkd.com.
March 2, 2015
Chosun e-newsletter Archive Volume 5 #3 March, 2015
Dear Martial Arts Enthusiast,
Welcome to the March edition of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy
e-newsletter! If you are suffering from cabin fever, we have plenty of CHOSUN events planned for March to offer a cure! From the upcoming Warwick Community Showcase to the Chosun Open House and the Taekwondo Book Donation Program at the library, CHOSUN will be out and about! We are also introducing a new column in this issue, Mrs. Pyke Eats Korea! If you love eating Korean food, now with Mrs. Pyke's help, you can make it yourself!
Enjoy! View the 2014 Chosun Taekwondo Academy Retrospective
Kamsahamnida,
Patty Cook, Editor www.facebook.com/chosuntkd
Happy St. Patrick's Day & National Women's History Month
(see the Student Spotlight below)
Chosun Taekwondo Academy celebrating 18 years!
Read entire newsletter...
Welcome to the March edition of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy
e-newsletter! If you are suffering from cabin fever, we have plenty of CHOSUN events planned for March to offer a cure! From the upcoming Warwick Community Showcase to the Chosun Open House and the Taekwondo Book Donation Program at the library, CHOSUN will be out and about! We are also introducing a new column in this issue, Mrs. Pyke Eats Korea! If you love eating Korean food, now with Mrs. Pyke's help, you can make it yourself!
Enjoy! View the 2014 Chosun Taekwondo Academy Retrospective
Kamsahamnida,
Patty Cook, Editor www.facebook.com/chosuntkd
Happy St. Patrick's Day & National Women's History Month
(see the Student Spotlight below)
Chosun Taekwondo Academy celebrating 18 years!
Read entire newsletter...
March 1, 2015
"Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives" National Women's History Project 2015
by Kate Pernice, 3rd Dan Chosun Taekwondo Academy student
The following is her "story"
I grew up in Orange County and somehow my travels always brought me back to this area. My dad farmed, had several businesses and then went into construction. His entrepreneurial spirit influenced me in many ways, both in the work that he chose and in his belief that you can do anything you put your mind
Via Ferrata, Circleville, West Virginiato. My mom is a wonderful story-teller. I grew up hearing about her adventures of travel and work. She was an independent woman, she sailed, she was a pilot-- her favorite story was when she worked for the military in Minnesota during WWII and she would pack her own parachute and go up to test the airplanes to do “spins and stalls” after they were repaired. I learned from both of them a free-spirit determination, creative thinking and the importance of love.
Surrounded by nature in my childhood, I learned about the relationships between plants and animals and humans. I became a vegetarian at the age of 16 along with my brother (with the concern of my parents). I became interested in spacial design, studied architecture and did construction renderings for my dad’s business. After traveling and the birth of my first son, I went on to study childbirth education, herbal medicine, homeopathy, yoga and eventually I entered nursing school and then a graduate program to become a nurse practitioner. I remember in those first few months of practicing in a busy clinic, often coming home, discouraged and crying. I felt that people deserved more than 10 or 15 minutes of my time, that their stories were important and that the act of listening has a healing effect especially when someone is struggling with life issues. After 14 years of practicing in inner-city clinic settings I opened my own practice in order to offer the kind of care that I believed in. Throughout those previous years I had 2 beautiful boys, (now grown) and my musician husband and I became interested in education, a direction that he pursued. We renovated houses, camped, gardened, sailed, traveled and grew a family together. At one of those disillusioned moments of my life I decided to attend a 4-year training in psychology and energy healing, brought this work into my practice, and went on to teach at that school for the past 15 years. This is why you sometimes don’t see me in the Dojang. The school is based in Miami and I travel there 5 times a year. A few years ago I was simultaneously teaching in the Miami school and our sister school in Japan. So I was traveling every month and although it was a wonderful experience I very much missed my time in the Dojang. I feel so grateful to be part of these two wonderful communities of colleagues, friends and students. Community has become very important to me; it is where we share our stories, our differences can be heard and our common ground found. For the past three years a colleague and I have developed retreat-based work, The Sacred Living Project, examining the Sacred in ordinary life through music, poetry, movement, stories, group work and native traditions. Each August for the past 11 years I trek to the wilderness-mountains of West Virginia as a facilitator for The Women’s Hero’s Journey. It is my favorite way of doing the work that I do—bringing personal and group work and the complexity of our psyche into the raw simplicity of nature. Courageous women from all over the world come to journey together with other women in the largest expanse of mountainous dark sky on the east coast. The work is based on Joseph Campbell’s call to the mythic life, The Hero’s Journey. We engage with the elements of air, water, fire, earth, we work with trust, grief, fierceness, vulnerability, we climb mountains, we descend into the earth, we walk on fire, take leaps of faith, we wander on the land, we face our aloneness, but mostly we come together in a loving community to discover more about ourselves. And our program has now expanded to include a young women’s journey so that our circles span over a woman’s life-time.
So many times I have drawn upon my Taekwondo practice for strength, insight and perseverance and especially during the times that I have struggled in my life. When I was a red belt I became very ill with Lyme disease and couldn’t practice for several months. I remember reflecting again and again on the five tenets and the one that spoke loudest to me (as often one or two will come to the foreground when I need them) was “Indomitable Spirit”. I found a connection to my larger self and could find comfort in the strength of my spirit while I simultaneously was quite disturbed by the strange and new experience of not having a strong and healthy body available to me. I consider my Taekwondo practice a constant opportunity to find focus, inner balance and self-acceptance. I love the rigor and the internal quiet, the yin and the yang of Taekwondo and the sense of belonging, not only to our Dojang but also amongst the tradition of our ancestor practitioners that have passed on the teachings. I can’t imagine my life without Taekwondo. As I enter my 10thyear of practice and take stock of the things I feel immeasurably grateful for and that are at the heart of my life as daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher, healer, gardener, wild woman, seeker, martial artist… Taekwondo came into my life at just the right time and has continued to be a guiding post for me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have surpassed my ideas and limiting beliefs about myself countless times and my inner indomitable spirit more times than not takes on the attitude of, “Why not?” when I am faced with a challenge. I am so grateful to Patty and Master Doug Cook for their perseverance and dedication in bringing our wonderful community together. That is no small feat in these busy times.
Kamsahamnida, Kate
The following is her "story"
I grew up in Orange County and somehow my travels always brought me back to this area. My dad farmed, had several businesses and then went into construction. His entrepreneurial spirit influenced me in many ways, both in the work that he chose and in his belief that you can do anything you put your mind
Via Ferrata, Circleville, West Virginiato. My mom is a wonderful story-teller. I grew up hearing about her adventures of travel and work. She was an independent woman, she sailed, she was a pilot-- her favorite story was when she worked for the military in Minnesota during WWII and she would pack her own parachute and go up to test the airplanes to do “spins and stalls” after they were repaired. I learned from both of them a free-spirit determination, creative thinking and the importance of love.Surrounded by nature in my childhood, I learned about the relationships between plants and animals and humans. I became a vegetarian at the age of 16 along with my brother (with the concern of my parents). I became interested in spacial design, studied architecture and did construction renderings for my dad’s business. After traveling and the birth of my first son, I went on to study childbirth education, herbal medicine, homeopathy, yoga and eventually I entered nursing school and then a graduate program to become a nurse practitioner. I remember in those first few months of practicing in a busy clinic, often coming home, discouraged and crying. I felt that people deserved more than 10 or 15 minutes of my time, that their stories were important and that the act of listening has a healing effect especially when someone is struggling with life issues. After 14 years of practicing in inner-city clinic settings I opened my own practice in order to offer the kind of care that I believed in. Throughout those previous years I had 2 beautiful boys, (now grown) and my musician husband and I became interested in education, a direction that he pursued. We renovated houses, camped, gardened, sailed, traveled and grew a family together. At one of those disillusioned moments of my life I decided to attend a 4-year training in psychology and energy healing, brought this work into my practice, and went on to teach at that school for the past 15 years. This is why you sometimes don’t see me in the Dojang. The school is based in Miami and I travel there 5 times a year. A few years ago I was simultaneously teaching in the Miami school and our sister school in Japan. So I was traveling every month and although it was a wonderful experience I very much missed my time in the Dojang. I feel so grateful to be part of these two wonderful communities of colleagues, friends and students. Community has become very important to me; it is where we share our stories, our differences can be heard and our common ground found. For the past three years a colleague and I have developed retreat-based work, The Sacred Living Project, examining the Sacred in ordinary life through music, poetry, movement, stories, group work and native traditions. Each August for the past 11 years I trek to the wilderness-mountains of West Virginia as a facilitator for The Women’s Hero’s Journey. It is my favorite way of doing the work that I do—bringing personal and group work and the complexity of our psyche into the raw simplicity of nature. Courageous women from all over the world come to journey together with other women in the largest expanse of mountainous dark sky on the east coast. The work is based on Joseph Campbell’s call to the mythic life, The Hero’s Journey. We engage with the elements of air, water, fire, earth, we work with trust, grief, fierceness, vulnerability, we climb mountains, we descend into the earth, we walk on fire, take leaps of faith, we wander on the land, we face our aloneness, but mostly we come together in a loving community to discover more about ourselves. And our program has now expanded to include a young women’s journey so that our circles span over a woman’s life-time.
So many times I have drawn upon my Taekwondo practice for strength, insight and perseverance and especially during the times that I have struggled in my life. When I was a red belt I became very ill with Lyme disease and couldn’t practice for several months. I remember reflecting again and again on the five tenets and the one that spoke loudest to me (as often one or two will come to the foreground when I need them) was “Indomitable Spirit”. I found a connection to my larger self and could find comfort in the strength of my spirit while I simultaneously was quite disturbed by the strange and new experience of not having a strong and healthy body available to me. I consider my Taekwondo practice a constant opportunity to find focus, inner balance and self-acceptance. I love the rigor and the internal quiet, the yin and the yang of Taekwondo and the sense of belonging, not only to our Dojang but also amongst the tradition of our ancestor practitioners that have passed on the teachings. I can’t imagine my life without Taekwondo. As I enter my 10thyear of practice and take stock of the things I feel immeasurably grateful for and that are at the heart of my life as daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher, healer, gardener, wild woman, seeker, martial artist… Taekwondo came into my life at just the right time and has continued to be a guiding post for me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have surpassed my ideas and limiting beliefs about myself countless times and my inner indomitable spirit more times than not takes on the attitude of, “Why not?” when I am faced with a challenge. I am so grateful to Patty and Master Doug Cook for their perseverance and dedication in bringing our wonderful community together. That is no small feat in these busy times.
Kamsahamnida, Kate
February 5, 2015
YOGA @ CHOSUN "Your Temple"
Chosun Taekwondo Academy & Hatha Yoga Center 62 Main St. Warwick NY www.chosuntkd.com "Your Temple"
The moment you sit down on your yoga mat to begin your practice can be a moment of profound transformation. This is a sacred time when attention begins to shift toward your "inner space" and your focus and intention are sharpened. You have entered your temple. In our yoga class this week as every week we honor ourselves by creating an inner place of self-reflection and harmony that nurtures our soul!
Join us and enter your sacred space...
Chosun Taekwondo Academy & Hatha Yoga Center
62 Main Street Warwick, NY
Class Schedule:
Tuesdays 9:30am
Wednesdays 6:30pm
Saturdays 9:30am
First Class is Free
$15 per class / $130 for 10 classes
For more information:
(845)986-2288 or info@chosuntkd.com
Beginners Welcome! Bring a Friend!
Want to find out about Chosun sponsored events?
Sign up for our FREE monthly e-newsletter
like Chosun's facebook page
get a FREE yoga class coupon
The moment you sit down on your yoga mat to begin your practice can be a moment of profound transformation. This is a sacred time when attention begins to shift toward your "inner space" and your focus and intention are sharpened. You have entered your temple. In our yoga class this week as every week we honor ourselves by creating an inner place of self-reflection and harmony that nurtures our soul!
Join us and enter your sacred space...
Chosun Taekwondo Academy & Hatha Yoga Center
62 Main Street Warwick, NY
Class Schedule:
Tuesdays 9:30am
Wednesdays 6:30pm
Saturdays 9:30am
First Class is Free
$15 per class / $130 for 10 classes
For more information:
(845)986-2288 or info@chosuntkd.com
Beginners Welcome! Bring a Friend!
Want to find out about Chosun sponsored events?
Sign up for our FREE monthly e-newsletter
like Chosun's facebook page
get a FREE yoga class coupon
February 2, 2015
Chosun Newsletter archive Volume 5 # 2 Feb 2015
Welcome to the February edition of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy
e-newsletter! As promised, 2015 is starting out with a bang! We are extremely proud to announce that a new Chosun affiliate school under the direction of
Chosun Third Dan Instructor Don WigginsChosun Third Dan Black Belt, Don Wiggins, will officially open this February in Nyack, NY. This scenic river town is the perfect place to share the Chosun brand of traditional taekwondo instruction. We wish Mr. Wiggins the best of luck and offer our enduring support. See Details below.Read entire newsletter...
January 29, 2015
YOGA @ CHOSUN "Honoring Your Edge"
"Honoring your Edge"
Whenever we stretch toward something just out of our reach whether in yoga class or in our own life experience we face our limits. When executing a yoga pose this is sometimes called "the edge." This week, we will be seated for an exploration of deep stretches. By "holding the pose" in an asana like Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana or Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose, we are challenged to meet our "edge" and stay tuned in. This is the process that leads to progress and transformation.
Join us and stretch your limits...
Chosun Taekwondo Academy & Hatha Yoga Center
62 Main Street Warwick, NY
Class Schedule:
Tuesdays 9:30am
Wednesdays 6:30pm
Saturdays 9:30am
First Class is Free
$15 per class / $130 for 10 classes
January 28, 2015
Couples that Train Together, Stay Together
By Chosun Taekwondo Academy student, Deborah Szajngarten
We all lead busy lives. Creating time to take care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually often comes last, after ensuring that the needs of our jobs, our partner and children are met. How many times have you said, “I’ll take that class tomorrow,” only to find the life gets in the way?
What if you could find a way to take care of yourself while spending quality time with your partner? Couples that decide to train in Taekwondo together create a unique bond based on positive emotions and healthful living.
Not only does it help you keep off those extra pounds, but it also helps couples create dedicated space in their daily lives for shared experiences, some of which can be profound.
According to Psychology Today, couples that train together are more satisfied with their relationships. Working together on coordinated motions— like forms or one-step sparring— helps the couples become more attuned to one another, based on physical cues. What’s more, all that sweating, heart racing, and endorphin building can keep your physical attraction to one another strong.
“When a couple works out together, the actual exercise itself can physically and emotionally have a positive impact,” explained Dr. Jane Greer, a marriage and relationship psychotherapist in New York City and author of What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship in an interview with YouBeauty Magazine. “Both partners come away with feelings of synchronicity, cooperative spirit and shared passion. Then you throw in some spicy endorphins and it can be a real power trip for the relationship.”
I’m happy to be among several couples that train together at Chosun Taekwondo Academy. My boyfriend and I met at the school when I was just a white belt. Taekwondo was the foundation of our early relationship. Even though he was a much higher belt than me, we practiced together often, both on and off the Dojang floor. It’s been two years now, and we still happily practice together. We even woke up early on vacation to do our forms on the beach at sunrise.
Happily, our experiences are not totally unique. Here’s what some of the other Chosun Taekwondo Academy couples have to say…
“My first thought was ‘a couple that kicks together sticks together!’ But my wife says that relationships, as well as Taekwondo training, are based upon the philosophy of contrary yet complementary forces...eum ~ yang...she's so smart." ; ) – Tommy Lennon and his wife Patricia are currently brown belts. “There is nothing like taking down your hubby with a Tiger Mouth Sweep!!” – Pam Pyke, and her husband Hal are third-degree instructors " The path of a martial artist is a unique one that very few understand. It is an incredible gift to have a partner that is not only capable of truly understanding the journey,but waking it right beside me." Bryce Parkinson and her husband Brian are brown belts “Well for us, training together is wonderful. We encourage and motivate each other to train regularly. Even when we are on vacation, we find a private location on the hotel property to practice our forms so that we can stay up to date on our training. We also enjoy going through the ranks together – we can appreciate each other’s accomplishments and understand what we have both achieved. It is a passion that we can both share, and it makes our training stronger because we enjoy helping each other succeed.” – Laura Towey and her husband John are first-degree black belts. “We began our Taekwondo journey seven years ago, never dreaming what it would mean to us. Today we are 3rd degree black belts and instructors at Chosun Taekwondo Academy. It is what we do and it is a large part of who we are. We have had ups and downs in our training and our competitiveness over the years has caused more than a few temper flare-ups. But, after all this time we still ask, “How was class?” And then we talk about what we did or didn’t do well, and what we learned. What we do know for certain? It’s better together.” – Nancy Garrett and her husband Jake are third-degree black belt instructors
As you can see, training together ensures that you both make time for yourselves, helps to deepen the bonds of your relationship and keeps you physically fit and attracted to one
another. So if you can’t think of the perfect gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day – give
the gift of training together. In fact, Chosun Taekwondo Academy is running a Valentine’s Day special. Sign-up for the: *$29 Basic Training Intro Package, and your partner’s Intro Package is FREE. For more information contact us: info@chosuntkd.com or click here to sign-up NOW!
*One month of unlimited classes with uniform. Valid through February, 2015.
www.chosuntkd.com visit us on Facebook
We all lead busy lives. Creating time to take care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually often comes last, after ensuring that the needs of our jobs, our partner and children are met. How many times have you said, “I’ll take that class tomorrow,” only to find the life gets in the way?
What if you could find a way to take care of yourself while spending quality time with your partner? Couples that decide to train in Taekwondo together create a unique bond based on positive emotions and healthful living.
Not only does it help you keep off those extra pounds, but it also helps couples create dedicated space in their daily lives for shared experiences, some of which can be profound. According to Psychology Today, couples that train together are more satisfied with their relationships. Working together on coordinated motions— like forms or one-step sparring— helps the couples become more attuned to one another, based on physical cues. What’s more, all that sweating, heart racing, and endorphin building can keep your physical attraction to one another strong.
“When a couple works out together, the actual exercise itself can physically and emotionally have a positive impact,” explained Dr. Jane Greer, a marriage and relationship psychotherapist in New York City and author of What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship in an interview with YouBeauty Magazine. “Both partners come away with feelings of synchronicity, cooperative spirit and shared passion. Then you throw in some spicy endorphins and it can be a real power trip for the relationship.”
I’m happy to be among several couples that train together at Chosun Taekwondo Academy. My boyfriend and I met at the school when I was just a white belt. Taekwondo was the foundation of our early relationship. Even though he was a much higher belt than me, we practiced together often, both on and off the Dojang floor. It’s been two years now, and we still happily practice together. We even woke up early on vacation to do our forms on the beach at sunrise.
Happily, our experiences are not totally unique. Here’s what some of the other Chosun Taekwondo Academy couples have to say…
“My first thought was ‘a couple that kicks together sticks together!’ But my wife says that relationships, as well as Taekwondo training, are based upon the philosophy of contrary yet complementary forces...eum ~ yang...she's so smart." ; ) – Tommy Lennon and his wife Patricia are currently brown belts. “There is nothing like taking down your hubby with a Tiger Mouth Sweep!!” – Pam Pyke, and her husband Hal are third-degree instructors " The path of a martial artist is a unique one that very few understand. It is an incredible gift to have a partner that is not only capable of truly understanding the journey,but waking it right beside me." Bryce Parkinson and her husband Brian are brown belts “Well for us, training together is wonderful. We encourage and motivate each other to train regularly. Even when we are on vacation, we find a private location on the hotel property to practice our forms so that we can stay up to date on our training. We also enjoy going through the ranks together – we can appreciate each other’s accomplishments and understand what we have both achieved. It is a passion that we can both share, and it makes our training stronger because we enjoy helping each other succeed.” – Laura Towey and her husband John are first-degree black belts. “We began our Taekwondo journey seven years ago, never dreaming what it would mean to us. Today we are 3rd degree black belts and instructors at Chosun Taekwondo Academy. It is what we do and it is a large part of who we are. We have had ups and downs in our training and our competitiveness over the years has caused more than a few temper flare-ups. But, after all this time we still ask, “How was class?” And then we talk about what we did or didn’t do well, and what we learned. What we do know for certain? It’s better together.” – Nancy Garrett and her husband Jake are third-degree black belt instructors
As you can see, training together ensures that you both make time for yourselves, helps to deepen the bonds of your relationship and keeps you physically fit and attracted to one
another. So if you can’t think of the perfect gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day – give
the gift of training together. In fact, Chosun Taekwondo Academy is running a Valentine’s Day special. Sign-up for the: *$29 Basic Training Intro Package, and your partner’s Intro Package is FREE. For more information contact us: info@chosuntkd.com or click here to sign-up NOW!*One month of unlimited classes with uniform. Valid through February, 2015.
www.chosuntkd.com visit us on Facebook
